An air movement solution designed by Gilberts has been supplied to the new Exhibition Centre Liverpool, Europe’s only purpose-built inter-connecting arena, convention centre and exhibition centre.
The new £66m complex provides 8,100m2 of space, which will remain well ventilated thanks to a solution developed by Gilberts of Blackpool, specified by building services contractor Briggs & Forrester Engineering Services.
Gilberts designed and supplied an air movement strategy to maintain a comfortable environment within the halls and main atrium. The solution also took into account the impact of heat gain through the building’s 135m long double-height fully glazed concourse, as well as the building’s variation of height which rises from 6m up to 9m.
Gilbert’s suggested a direction, single duct strategy centred around its DL drum louvres and GSJA/T thermal swirl diffusers, with adjustable vanes on heating inset into a single run of ductwork at high level the full length of the atrium.
Gilberts’ drum louvres are purpose developed to distribute air efficiently through large open buildings, with each louvre handling up to 675l/s. The GSJA/T swirl diffusers help mix the incoming air into the internal atmosphere.
To cool the area, the louvres and diffusers throw out air at high level to reduce the temperature in the rising warm air; when heating is required the airflow is directed downwards.
To ensure that the ventilation strategy would work, Gilberts undertook CFD (computational fluid dynamic) modelling to ensure the selections provided would meet the required levels of building ventilation. After analysing the resulting with Briggs & Forrester, finite adjustments were made to the strategy before installation began.
